the energy bill provides certainty and support for billions of pounds of investment in renewable energy. today we publish our gas strategy to insure we make the best use of lower cost gas power, including new sources of gas onto the land. we are announcing the creation of a single office so that regulation is safe but simple. we don't want british families and businesses to be left behind as gas prices tumble on the other side of the atlantic. we need to help our construction industry too. the last government abolished empty property relief, and as excellent work done by the members for york, hampton southwest and others show this has blighted development in our towns and cities. the proposal from my colleagues that we create a long grace period before newly-completed buildings have to pay empty property rates is a sensible one, and we will introduce it next october. the previous government also planned to increase the small company's tax rate to 22%, and we have cut it to 20%. but i'd like to help small and medium-sized firms more, and i want to thank my honorable friends for their tho